Google Workspace User Guide
Whether you're an individual entrepreneur, a small business owner, or part of a larger corporation, it's in your best interest to take the time to understand what Google Workspace is.
Essentially, Google Workspace is a collection of cloud-based tools designed to boost productivity and collaboration. This suite is a one-stop shop for everything from email management with Gmail, to document creation with Docs, and even online storage through Drive.
Besides access to these and other tools, many individuals and businesses choose Google Workspace to get a custom Gmail email address, such as name@business.com. Unlike regular Gmail email addresses, which always end with @gmail.com, custom addresses offer a level of professionalism and brand identity that makes it easier to stand out online.
What Is Included in Google Workspace?
We've already mentioned some of the most important Google Workspace features, but there's a lot more to this powerful suite. Let's quickly go over the main Google Workspace tools:
- Gmail: Just like regular Gmail but with added capabilities, including support for custom email addresses.
- Calendar: Keep track of your meetings, appointments, and deadlines.
- Meet: Video conferencing made easy and reliable, perfect for remote meetings, webinars, and team catch-ups.
- Chat: An instant messaging tool that integrates seamlessly with other Workspace applications, making quick communication a breeze.
- Drive: Secure cloud storage to keep all your files in one accessible place. Share and collaborate on documents with ease.
- Docs: Create, edit, and collaborate on documents in real-time. Say goodbye to multiple versions of the same file and enjoy seamless data loss protection.
- Sheets: Powerful spreadsheet app to analyze data, create reports, and manage projects.
- Slides: Create professional presentations easily and from any modern web browser.
- Forms: Whether it’s feedback surveys or event RSVPs, Forms helps you create and analyze surveys quickly and efficiently.
- Sites: Build internal or external websites with no coding required. Ideal for project wikis or business portfolios.
Each of these Google Workspace tools is designed to work together harmoniously, making it easier to get things done. Thanks to their cloud-based nature, you can access your data and collaborate with your team from anywhere, at any time.
How Much Does Google Workspace Cost?
| Plan |
|---|
| Business Starter |
| Business Standard |
| Business Plus |
| Enterprise |
| Price (USD/user/month) | Video Meeting Participants | Storage per User | Additional Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| $6 | Up to 100 | 30 GB | Standard support |
| $12 | Up to 150 + Recording | 2 TB | Option for enhanced support |
| $18 | Up to 500 + Recording and Attendance Tracking | 5 TB | Advanced security and management controls and more |
| Upon request | Up to 1000 + Advanced Features | 5 TB + Option for More | Enterprise endpoint management and more |
Google Workspace cost depends on which of the four Google Workspace plans you choose.
The least expensive plan is called Business Starter, priced at $6 per user per month. This plan is ideal for small businesses or individual entrepreneurs looking to create a professional business Gmail account on a budget. It includes all the basics like custom email, 30 GB of storage, and video meetings with up to 100 participants.
As your business grows, you might consider upgrading to higher-tier plans like Business Standard or Business Plus, which offer more storage, enhanced video meeting capabilities, and additional security features. These plans are priced at $12 and $18 per user per month, respectively.
For larger businesses or those needing advanced features, the Enterprise plan provides tailored solutions. While its pricing is custom, it offers the highest level of service with features like S/MIME encryption, noise cancellation in video meetings, and enterprise endpoint management.
No matter how you choose, all Google Workspace plans provide a comprehensive set of tools to help manage and grow your business effectively.
How to Use Google Workspace?
Now that you know the answer to the question, "How much does Google Workspace cost?", let's walk through the steps to sign up and start using it:
- Visit the Google Workspace website and click on the Get Started button to create business Gmail account.
- Enter your business name, select the number of your employees, and choose your region.
- Provide basic contact information, including your current email address and phone number. Then click Next.
- If you have an existing domain, you'll need to verify it with Google Workspace to use it as your professional email address. If you don't have one, Google can help you purchase a new domain during the setup process.
- Once your domain is verified, you can create the administrator account and start using Google Workspace.
As a new user, you can enjoy Google Workspace free of charge for the first 14 days. We recommend you take full advantage of this trial period. Specifically, you should:
- Familiarize yourself with the layout and features of each Google Workspace tool.
- Add as many users as you need.
- Try out real-time collaboration in Docs, Sheets, and Slides by sharing documents with others and editing them together.
- Install Gmail and other apps from Google on your mobile device for on-the-go productivity.
- Test various third-party applications that integrate or work with Google Workspace to see how they can enhance your workflow.
Remember, the trial period is your sandbox to experiment and understand the benefits of Google Workspace. Regardless of whether you're curious to see how to use Google Workspace for business or want to create a new Gmail account with a custom address, these two weeks are invaluable for testing and learning.
💡 Tip: With your Google Workspace account ready, you should learn how to change default Gmail account.
Improve Your Team’s Email Productivity With Clean Email
One of the best third-party tools for Google Workspace users is Clean Email. This inbox organizer app simplifies the often overwhelming task of email management with its powerful inbox-cleaning features.
Let's explore a few practical scenarios where Clean Email can be a game-changer:
Scenario 1: Effortlessly Reducing Inbox Clutter
Imagine you're an entrepreneur who receives hundreds of emails daily. Sorting through this avalanche of messages can be overwhelming, leading to missed opportunities and decreased productivity. Try Clean Email's Cleaning Suggestions feature. It provides smart suggestions based on messages that you cleaned or are frequently cleaned by other users, allowing you to quickly clean up your inbox.
Scenario 2: Eliminating Unwanted Subscriptions
For a small business team, staying on top of essential communications is key. However, promotional emails and newsletters often flood inboxes, creating a distraction. Clean Email's Unsubscriber tool tackles this issue head-on. It helps you identify and unsubscribe from unwanted emails en masse, ensuring your team receives fewer but more relevant messages, thereby saving time and maintaining focus on business-critical emails.
Scenario 3: Automating Email Management
As a busy professional, constantly organizing your inbox can eat into your productive time. Clean Email's Auto Clean feature allows you to create specific rules for various email senders. This means important client emails can be directly sent to a designated folder, while less critical ones can be archived or deleted automatically. Such automation ensures your inbox is always organized without the need for manual intervention.
These and all other features included in Clean Email adhere to Gmail's strict standards for privacy and security, ensuring that your email management is not only efficient but also secure. And just like the business email accounts created using Google Workspace, it can be accessed from anywhere using a handy mobile app.
Conclusion
Google Workspace is a comprehensive solution for enhancing business communication and productivity of anyone from individual entrepreneurs to large enterprises. Adding Clean Email into the mix is a great way to keep your Google Workspace Gmail inbox organized and efficient. And, in today's fast-paced digital world, having a well-organized communication and collaboration system is key to success.
